It is often heard that the names of Bangladeshis are in the list of missing or dead after crossing the Mediterranean Sea. Bangladeshi youth are not only victims of indescribable conditions and brutal torture, but also risking their lives by going to Europe illegally in the hope of getting a bright future. According to the information of the United Nations Refugee Agency, only last year (2023) about 13 thousand Bangladeshis crossed the sea and reached Italy. Earlier in 2022, about 15 thousand Bangladeshis tried to enter Italy by sea.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the rate of going abroad illegally is the highest from three districts of the country. Cox’s Bazar, Mymensingh and Jessore districts have become new ‘hotspots’ of human trafficking. Apart from keeping an eye on these, the government is thinking of setting up more special tribunals in those districts where there are additional cases under the Human Trafficking Act.
On February 15, 8 Bangladeshis died in a boat fire on the coast of Tunisia while traveling to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea. 27 Bangladeshis were rescued from that boat. Bangladesh Embassy in Libya said that 5 of the 8 dead people are residents of Madaripur’s Rajair Upazila.
Earlier, on November 3, 30 Bangladeshis, including a minor, were rescued from the Libyan coast of the Mediterranean by the rescue ship of the French charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The people who were rescued from there said that they reached Libya’s capital Tripoli via Bahrain and Istanbul by plane from Bangladesh. Before the voyage, the traffickers have to spend three to four days in captivity. In addition to the hardships of food and water, he had to endure indescribable torture.
Many who reached Europe or were rescued from boats at various times reported being tortured.
UN information
As of December 31, 2023, 157,651 people have crossed the Mediterranean Sea to Italy, according to UN Refugee Agency UNECR data. During this period, the number of missing or dead is 1 thousand 897, which is the highest since 2018. There are 12 thousand 774 Bangladeshis in this group of Sagarpari Dewa – which puts Bangladesh in the fourth position. Earlier in 2022, 14 thousand 971 Bangladeshis tried to enter Italy by sea.
According to last year’s data provided by the organization, most Bangladeshis went to Italy through the Mediterranean Sea in November.
On the other hand, 270 thousand 180 people tried to enter the European countries by sea and 3 thousand 760 people went missing or died. It is believed that there are hundreds of Bangladeshis among them.
The number of Bangladeshis entering Greece and Spain by sea or road is very low. So its statistics are not available.
According to the UNHCR, those who try to reach Italy by sea from Libya are mostly citizens of Bangladesh, Egypt and Syria.
Last December, around 1,300 people were detained while crossing Italy’s northern border with Slovenia. UNHCR reports that more than 12,000 people will enter the area in 2023. Many of them are citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Traffickers prefer sea routes
According to UNHCR, there are seven routes used to enter Europe illegally. All of them are for entering Europe from Libya or Türkiye. Among these seven routes, the ‘popular’ is the Central Mediterranean route. It is used by irregular migrants who find it ‘safe’ to travel from Libya to Italy. So, influenced by the words of the broker, he spent millions and went to Libya or Turkey. From there begins the main phase of going to Europe. 10 to 15 lakh taka is asked as the total cost to go to Europe. That money is extorted in advance, even after the start of the journey, the money is extorted by physical torture.
Three districts of the country are human trafficking ‘hotspot’
In the updated report of the National Plan of Action Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking for the year 2023-25 of the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, it was reported on December 31 that three districts of the country have become hotspots for human trafficking. The three districts are Cox’s Bazar, Mymensingh and Jessore.
This report also says that 884 cases have been registered in the country’s police stations so far. In total, there are 3 thousand 704 pending cases filed so far. Accused in these cases are about 34,500. The national action plan adopted by the government has also called for special tribunals in districts where there are more cases of human trafficking.
The first national research report on human trafficking in the country, initiated by the government, was published in October 2022. It said that a large number of human trafficking cases were filed with the courts and police across the country. The Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking in Persons Act (PSHTA) of 2012 and the Anti-Trafficking Offenses Tribunal established in seven divisions have expanded the scope of prosecution of related offences. Still, there are challenges in finalizing cases and securing convictions.
Why is human trafficking not decreasing?
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in their 2020 Global Report on Trafficking, Bangladesh is vulnerable to human trafficking due to economic needs. Although Bangladesh reduced its poverty rate by about 30 percent between the early 1990s and the late 2010s, many people living in rural areas still have limited economic opportunities and remain below the poverty line.
Traffickers lure people living below the poverty line with the promise of better income-earning opportunities in North America and Europe, including countries in the Middle East, the report said.
What do the experts say?
Immigration expert and professor of North South University. Jalal Uddin Sikder said, ‘In addition to creating awareness among the immigrants, discussion with the relevant people at home and abroad is very important. Why they are desperate and migrating abroad, taking grave risks, needs to be researched. Secondly, brokers should be brought under the law. The brokers who are scattered in the transit points of Libya, Turkey and Dubai should be discussed with the heads of government of those countries if necessary to bring them under the law.
He also said, ‘If you are legally trained, you will have the opportunity to earn a respectable salary abroad, as well as the security of your life – the aspirants should be convinced about this.’
A senior official of the Ministry of Home Affairs said that Bangladesh has a zero tolerance policy on irregular immigration. According to him, Bangladesh has a strong position against human trafficking. Bangladesh government is working together with national level and various international organizations, civil society and United Nations to prevent and combat human trafficking. The current National Action Plan also seeks to reach every victim and hold every perpetrator accountable.
He further said that the heinous crime of human trafficking has trapped women, men and children in various forms of exploitation inside and outside the country. The present NPA has given special emphasis to address these factors. Since coming to power, the present government has been making earnest efforts to prevent all forms of human trafficking.
State Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury said that we are trying in various ways so that people do not go to Europe illegally. Request to all – Do not try to cross the country illegally. Everyone should be aware of this.
